Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-03-16
PROGRESS IN MEDICINE.
A Doctor Says That Light Is Break
ing In Upon the Profession.
Imaginary Ills to which Flesh Il Heir
People Who Insist Upon Being DOscd,
AMI How They Arr Accommo-
dEted-Counter-Irrt.an
Detroit Tribune.l
"Did you see that ladv!n

Detroit Tribune.l
"Did you sec that ladv!n
A prominen; Detroi: physician indicated
lady who had just left his office.
We'll she imagines she has consump-
ton, and this is her third visit 10 me. You
needn't look surprised If I were TO tell
her the truth-tEat she hasn't the remotest
symptoms Of the disease-she would think
NE fool and 20 70 another doctor. And
II he told her the truth she would keep on
going until she found a physician who
agreed with her. The only way TO deal
with persons who think they have con-
sumption is to humOr their within. charge
as little as possible without exciting their
suspicion, and bring thcm around perfectly
cured as soon as they can be made to be-
Eeve it. You have no idea of the number
Of intelligent ladies who imagine they
have consumption or cancer. Some rela-
tive or acquaintance Of theirs has died
with one of these complaints, and the first
time they cough they are convinced that il
is the beginning OF consumption, and the
least little pimple or burning sensation
drives them almost frantic with the
thought that a cancer is forming. The
only possible way to deal with this class of
cases Is 10 thoroughly gain the confidence
Of the patient They watch the physician
Like cat, and any hesitation on his part
leads them TO imagine the worst or else
set him down as Incompetent
81 usually ask few direct questions,
such as when the trouble was first noticed,
the exact location aud intensity of the
pain, and then fall into their view OF tho
matter. ] assure them that they have done
a wise thing in coming to me AZ once, as,
now that the trouble can be taken in time,
there win be no difficulty in effecting n
speedy cure. a few bread pills and bot
tie of scented syrup are prepared with the
greatest care and particular directions
given as TO how they are 20 be taken. At
tho next visit notice perccptible change
for the better, and am delighted as l had
hardly expected any Improvement so soon.
The third visit shows complete eradica-
ton OF the acute nature of the trouble,
but TO provide against any return new
remedies are applied. At the fourth visit
the patient is as well as anybody, treat
ment is discontinued, and have gained a
few dollars and lifelong friend and
patron"
"And there is No quackery about it,"
''Not bit But il | were to tell the
truth in the first place the patient would
probably fall into the hands Of some un-
scrupulous medic who would scare the life
out of her and charge her dollars where
Only lake CcntS.
ITO what extont does this sort of practice
exist"
"Well, II only those who really require
physician were prescribed for one-quarter
of the doctors in Detroit would become
Micawbers. On the other hand, there are a
class of people not alone confined to the
poor who neglect calling doctor until it
is too late. He gets the case just ia time
~ l. Al l.
arc hundreds of cases terminating fatally
which might have been saved if taken in
time. This is a very uneven world. my
friend, take it how you will-financially,
politically, socially or incidentally. We
boast of our enlightenment, but you have
no idea of the superstition existing all
around Va. Why, the faith cure has so
many followers that it has almost grown
respectable. See tho number of clairvoy-
ant 'healcrs' who maintain themselves in
luxury by seeing the disease and remedy
in trance. How many, think you, carry
hOrse-chestnuts in their pockets every day
OF their lives to keep of rheumatism, and
would not dare 20 without onel Not few,
i assure you. Look at the vast sales CT
patent medicines. Now let me tell you
something Of these patent medicines. Most
Of them arc prepared for general con-
reason
must OF necessity be without virtue. You
never hear of any ore being injured by
thcm-that would not do, as it would at
once sop the sale Of the article. SO they
are prepared for the most delicate child
and the strongest man mere wash A
remedy which VIII do no one harm will do
no one any good There are a hundred 9TH
or superstitions, but / don't know as
! ought TO be surprised at them. Medicine
itself has only recently emerged from an
almost barbavic state. Less than twenty
five years ago we were salivating with
calomel, cupping and blistering and bleed
ing for almost every thing The counter
irritant is still practiced TO some extent"
''What is that"
"Why, if little boy was beating a
drum, aud you wished TO hush his noise,
the way to do it would be to commence fir
ing cannon. II you have pain in the
stomach, put on a blister, and it will hurt
you so much worse that you'll never no
tice the pain. MGdicated plasters are all
right when applied to extract pain or any
deepseated morbidity as has often been
proven, but as a counter-irritant l regard
them as relic of barbarism.
But, then, medicine has made
wonderful progress in the last
twenty years, since the homeopathic op-
position began. il woke the old school up,
and by so doing bestowed an inestimable
boon upon humanity. It's first ieeas, re
garding infuitcsimal doses. were as much
10 one extreme as the other schools doses
were to tho other. Both schools have re-
coded from their extreme views. and are
now very near together. Another change
Is the breaking up of the profession into
specialties. A country store contains
goods, boots and shoes. SO il used to be
with medicine. Only twenty-five years
ago you had to go to doctor 10 get tooth
pulled. Now you go 10 dentist. The eye
and ear are made enc speciality, brain dis
eases and insanity another, and so on. II
is impossible for one mind to be expert al
all classes OF disease 1t is too much tC
expect man who amputates leg TO be
able the next moment TO prescribe for an
| infant with marasmus. The dawn is
breaking, sir, and l am glad to see it."